Chapter 1: Work Relationships
“Angela, can I see you in my office?” Jacob Lively asked sticking his head out of his office door andmotioning for her with a frown on his face.
“Shit.” Angela murmured under her breath as she stood from her desk chair and rubbed the wrinkles out of her skirt.
“Uh-oh.” Her best friend and coworker laughed patting her belly which was 7 months pregnant with twins. Her other coworker, Molly, chuckled and reached for the ringing phone.
“Angie, now!” Jacob yelled from his office. She tucked her shoulder length brown hair behind her ear, signed and walked around the corner to Jacob’s office. He was standing just inside his office with his hands on his hips. His light brown hair was spiked as usual and he wore a white lab coat over his button up blue shirt and khaki pants. The lab coat was an old habit that he had yet to break from working in the hospital. He was now branch manager and head respiratory therapist for Knox Home Care, in which they delivered home medical equipment. Angela bit back a smile as she approached his office. She stepped in as he reached behind her and pushed the door closed. He then pressed her up against it. He tilted her chin up to him and kissed her gently at first then more passionately.
“Mmmm,” she moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I thought your rule was not at work.”
“Screw it.” He kissed her neck then slowly made his way back to her lips. He lingered there for a few seconds before pulling back and looking into her hazel eyes. “We’re probably already in trouble anyways, and you look so damn hot in that skirt.”
She pulled back from him and playfully bit his lower lip.
“What do you mean we are already in trouble?”
He sighed and stepped back from her. He walked around his desk and sat down slowly. “I just got a voice mail from Rick.” He picked up a pen and chewed unconsciously. “He’s coming down tomorrow from corporate to talk to everyone about inter-office relationships.”
“That’s stupid.” She expressed sitting down in the chair across from him. “There are a lot of inter-office relationships.”
He nodded and frowned. “I know, but I can only think about one that may be against company rules.”
“Ours.” She stated and he nodded.
When Jacob first came to work at Knox Home Care nine months ago he was very professional and a real hard ass. Everyone hated him and grumbled to Angela, who had worked for the company for 4 years. She hated it more than anyone when a new boss came in and tried to throw their weight around. She was the first to stand up to him and politely refused when he insisted that the customer service girls start wearing scrubs to work. However, she could over look his rude appeal; she could not overlook his stunning good looks.
She decided that she would do her best to get him to like working her and her coworkers, so she turned her charm on full blast. Turned out she charmed his pants off. And it only took her about three months to change his tune and turn him into a very likable boss.
They had secretly been dating for six months. Secretly because he was afraid of just this thing happening. While he was absolutely crazy about her, he had never done anything this unprofessional in his whole life and was terrified of losing his job. However, he had never felt so strongly about a woman but he did not want to lose her because despite the hell she gave him at first, he actually enjoyed working in the home health business. While it was not as fast pace as the hospital, he got to go home everyday at five o’clock.
“Does anyone in the office know about us?” he asked her after a moment of silence.
Angela nervously bit her bottom lip. She was afraid of losing her job also. She had put a lot of time and effort into her job and fully enjoyed it. When she decided to get into bed with Jacob, she never intended for it to be anything but a one night fling. She never thought she would have such strong feeling for him and that scared her more than anything else.
“Angie.” Hearing him say her name brought her back to the present. He leaned forward on his desk. “Does anyone know about us?” he asked again.
“Amy.” She replied nervously.
He nodded, expecting this. “Anyone else?”
“Amy told Devon.”
“Is that all?” he sighed.
“I think Mike may suspect it.”
He gritted his teeth. “Anyone else?” This time she shook her head.
“You mean, Molly doesn’t know as much as you girls gossip out there.”
“We don’t gossip.” She snapped. “And no, she just knows that I have been seeing someone.”
“Fine.” He sat back and crossed his arms. “Don’t let anyone else find out and just keep it cool tomorrow when Rick is here. You know how he is.”
She nodded and crossed her arms, too. “Fine, but don’t think you can get by with pulling me in your office and harassing me, or else people will really start to think something.” She raised her eyebrow at him to engage his reaction then stood. “If there is nothing else, sir, I have work that needs to be done.”
He stared at her for a moment, standing there with her hands on her hips. Then he chuckled and stood also. “Yes, that is all.”
She turned and started to open the door, but he was already around the desk and pushed it closed really quickly. His cologne was suddenly all she could seem to smell about and it clouded her mind. He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger.
“Sorry for harassing you.” He smiled. “Maybe I can make it up to you by buying you dinner tonight.”
She gazed up at him and smiled back. “Let me check my schedule and I will get back to you.” She teased. He sighed and opened the door.
“You’re going to be the death of me!” he whispered. She smiled and stormed out of his office back to her desk.
Amy and Molly looked at her with anticipation. Wanting the details as to why she was called in the boss’s office.
“Nothing.” She mumbled and plopped down in her chair behind her desk in the front of the office. “It’s stupid.”
“Everyone to the conference room for a quick meeting.” Jacob’s voice suddenly boomed over the intercom.
“Alright guys and gals,” Jacob greeted his staff once everyone was in the conference room and seated. Everyone consisted of 4 respiratory therapist, 5 delivery technicians, the 3 customer service girls and Colleen the clinical coordinator who the girls referred to as the paper Nazi.
“I know we all have a busy day and are ready to get started, but I just got a voicemail from Rick.” Groans and sighed filled the room. “I know, I know, my thoughts exactly.” Jacob said to get their attention back. “Unfortunately, he is gracing us with his presence tomorrow.” More groans and sighs and some protest filled the room this time.
“Oh, just wait, it gets better.” Jacob promised. “He will be meeting with us in the morning on interoffice relationships.
“Uh-oh.” Devon Richardson chuckled.
“Why?” Molly asked. Jacob glanced quickly at Angela then away before anyone but she could notice.
“Are we going to be in trouble if we are in one?” Devon asked, “Because if so, I am toast.”
“Nah, D,” Mike piped up slapping him on the back, “He said relationships, not knocking up the CSR’s.”
“Haha, very funny, Mike.” Amy pretended to laugh.
“Look, I know there are plenty of office relationships and past relationships, but we just have to listen to him and agree with him.”
The office was, in fact, made up of relationships. So much in fact, that it should be their office on TV instead of Dunder Mifflin. Devon and Amy had been dating for several years, but recently broke up. However, Amy soon found out that she was pregnant. This was, of course, was about 4 months ago. Devon, was involved for a short time with the hot new therapist, Bridgette, but was now trying to work things out with Amy again. Bridgette was now trying to get with Mike, only because Jacob had calmly turned her down, telling her he could not be involved with employees, being the branch manager and all. Molly and Brad, the technician supervisor, were married and Angela had had a short lived fling with Dave last year, and previously with a guy named Eric who was a therapist before Bridgette, which she was sure Jacob did not know about and she planned to keep it that way. John, another technician, fiancé worked in the Morristown office, and of course there was the secret relationship between Angela and Jacob.
“Is he going to be here the whole day?” Molly asked.
“I assume so.” Jacob nodded. “So you girls be on your best behavior out there tomorrow and don’t gossip so he can hear. And no text messaging.” He quickly added.
“We don’t gossip.” Molly, Amy, and Angela said in unison, and then laughed at themselves.
“Right, and Devon isn’t the father of Amy’s babies.” Mike joked. Amy shot him a nasty look. “Just joking.” He squeaked throwing his hands up in the air. Devon shook his head and smirked.
“Don’t piss her off, Mike.” Devon smiled at Amy. “She may eat you for lunch.” He giggled at his own joke and braced himself for what he knew was coming. Amy punched him in the arm and he winced at her new found strength.
“Not funny!” she cried and stood up as fast as her huge belly would allow her and waddled from the conference room.
“You know you are in trouble.” Angela told Devon.
“Yeah, I know, but it was worth it.”
“Alright, guys, that’s enough.” Jacob said. “Everyone back to work.” The all groaned and moaned, but headed out of the conference room back to their work stations. The technicians prepared to leave for their routes, while the therapist made follow up phone calls for yesterday’s setup. Devon stepped out for a few minutes and returned with a bouquet of roses and a box of chocolate for Amy.
Later that day Angela sat her at desk entering a new patient into the system when her desk phone rang.
“This is Angela.” She answered.
“Check your email.” Amy whispered and hung up. Angela replaced the receiver and clicked on the icon to bring up her email. She clicked on Amy’s email and began to read.
From: AmyD@knoxhomecare.com
Subject: What’s the scoop?
Ang,
So are you ever going to tell me why J called you in his office this morning? Has someone found out about you two? Do you think Rick is coming down tomorrow to fire him? Or what if he says no more office dating? Will you two break it off? Wonder if D would finally take that as a blessing and break things off with me? Well at least he couldn’t see that slut Bridgette either. Write back!! I’m bored.
-Amy-
Angela hit the reply button and quickly responded to her friends email.
From: AngelaJ@knoxhomecare.com
Subject: RE: What’s the scoop?
Amy,
He called me in there to see who all I had told about us. So keep your mouth shut and don’t tell anyone else. Tell D he better not tell anyone either or I will gut him and then you won’t have to worry about him!!! J/K….. maybe….. anyways, I don’t think he could stop interoffice dating, I mean, it’s going to happen when we are all around each other as much as we are. Besides, Molly and Brad are married and you and D are having babies. I don’t think D would think of it as a blessing. You know he loves you and the unborn babies. And I would not worry about Bridgette Big Boobs, she seems to have back off some since J turned her down. If you are bored you can always go file!! ;0)
-Angie-
After responding to Amy she went back to her inbox to check her other messages.
From: JacobL@knoxhomecare.com
Subject: Tonight
Angie,
So about that make-up dinner…. Can you clear your schedule for me?
-Jake-
She chuckled and hit reply.
From: AngelaJ@knoxhomecare.com
Subject: RE: Tonight
Jake,
Sure hope they are not monitoring our emails! That would be a hard one to explain! J Oh, and I forgot, I had already penciled you in for tonight anyways. Just hoping, I guess. Your house or mine?
-Angie-
The next one was from Molly.
To: AmyD@knoxhomecare.com, AngelaJ@knoxhomecare.com
From: MollyR@knoxhomecare.com
Subject: Uh-oh
Hey Girls!
Oh my gosh! I wonder what is going to happen tomorrow. Amy, think he will make you and Devon stop seeing each other. Wonder if I will have to transfer to Morristown on account of Brad? I don’t guess that would be so bad. Their manager is nice too. Or at least that’s what Holly, John’s wife, tells me. Ang, good thing your new beau doesn’t work here.
-Molly-
To: MollyR@knoxhomecare.com, AngelaJ@knoxhomecare.com
From: AmyD@knoxhomecare.com
Subject: RE: Uh-oh
If it will stop anyone it will stop Bridgette!!! She’s making her way through everyone pretty fast. You better watch Brad, Molly. I saw her flirting with him by the coffee pot this morning.
-Amy-
To: MollyR@knoxhomecare.com, AmyD@knoxhomecare.com
From: AngelaJ@knoxhomecare.com
Subject: RE: RE: Uh-oh
Molly, I doubt you will be forced to go to Morristown. I don’t think this has anything to do with you and Brad.
-Angie-
From: AmyD@knoxhomecare.com
Subject: Lunch
Starving over here! Let’s go grab lunch!
-Amy-
Angela and Amy sat across from each other in the Chick-fil-A dining room which was up the road from the office. Angela munched on her waffle fries and chicken sandwich while Angela stabbed at her salad.
“So, tell me something,” Amy started, “How close are you and Jacob?”
“He forbids me to tell you anything else.” Angela frowned at her salad and reached for the packet of ranch dressing and began to drown the leaves in it.
“Oh, come on.” Amy pleaded. “I need a little bit of something to spice me up. Devon thinks since I am pregnant, that we can’t have sex.”
“That’s stupid.” Angela mumbled around the lettuce she had just stuffed in her mouth. She swallowed and continued. “Sex is good for you and the babies.” Amy rolled her eyes.
“Tell Devon that. He thinks I am a disgusting, fat blimp.”
“Aim, I am sure he does not feel that way.” She reassured her friend. Amy waved her off.
“Stop avoiding my question. I want to know the truth.” She eyed her friend. “This has gone on way to long for this to just be a fling. I haven’t seen you this happy with someone since……” she stopped her self before she could bring her friends past back to the surface. “Well, in a long time.” Angela laughed.
“Look, Aim, there is really nothing to tell.”
“Then why did he call you in his office this morning?”
“To warn me about Rick coming and to see who all I had told about us.”
“Is that all?” Amy asked slightly disappointed.
“Yes.” Angela assured her. “That is all.”
Amy leaned as close as she could to the table and lowered her voice. “Have you two ever done it in the office?”
“Amy!” Angela exclaimed, the chuckled at her friend. “No, we never have.” Amy raised her eyebrows at her not quiet believing her. “Seriously,” she sipped her unsweet tea and stood her ground. Amy continued to stare at her, finally she sighed and decided to give Amy a little bit. “Ok look, today in his office, was the first time he kissed me at work.”
“Really?” Amy squealed. “So he did kiss you?”
“Yes, Aim.” She giggled. Maybe she should have a talk with Devon so her friend would stop living through her relationship. “We have done more than kiss too, just not at work.”
“Is he good in bed?” Amy asked shamelessly. “I bet he is good in bed.”
“I am not telling you that!”
“Come on, Angie!” she pleaded. “We have been friends forever and I haven’t had sex in like, 5 months!”
“There is no way I am telling you that.” She shook her head.
“Oh my!” Amy smiled and leaned back. She crossed her arms on top of her big belly. “You really do like him.”
“What?” Angela hid her surprise by stealing a fry.
“You have always been a kiss and tell gal. Like when you and Eric were going at it in the back of the van when Brad walked out and nearly caught you. What is so different this time that you want tell me?” Angela didn’t say anything. “Ang, there is only one other time you have not came and bragged to me about your “relations” with someone.” She made quotation marks in the air. “You really want things to work out this time. You are actually happy with him.”
“No, he is just my boss, so I shouldn’t.” Angela protested. “And I was not “going at it” with Eric. We were just…..” she trailed off.
“Uh- Uh, nope, not buying it, neither one.” Amy shook her head. “In fact, you may even fall in love with him yet. Jacob, not Eric.” She clarified.
“I am not in love with him! And I have not talked to Eric since he got fired, why are we even talking about him.” she immediately exclaimed.
“You are not in love with him yet. Give it time and your right, Eric is old news.” Amy smiled coyly.
“Love is not in my agenda, Amy.” She reminded her friend.
“Oh, right, I forgot.” Amy rolled her eyes. “You’re still waiting on the first sucker who broke your heart to come back and fix it.” She didn’t care about bringing up the past this time. She had watched her friend suffer for years since her last serious relationship, jeopardizing relationship after relationship because she was still in love with whats-his-name. It was time for her to move on and she did not plan on letting her ruin this relationship if she could help it.
“His name was Nick.” Angela said bleakly. “And he didn’t break my heart.”
Amy shook her head, “Then why are you so defensive.” She reached across the table and grabbed her friend’s hand. “You should not be ashamed of loving, Angie. Love can be a beautiful thing.”
“But you always get hurt when you let love in.” she pouted. “Just look at you and D.”
“Ang, Me and D are still in love. I know that he never stopped loving me. No matter how much I whine about it. I write it all off to my hormones.” She joked. “But seriously, when he looks at me I see the love in his eyes, and when he brings me flowers like he did this morning I know that he is really trying. Love takes two and you have to make an effort. It pays off in the end.”
“He bought you flowers because you were crying in the bathroom after he made fun of you.” Angela reminded her.
“Angela!” she yanked her hand back and grabbed her tray. “You are hopeless. Die alone and full of heart ache over one stupid guy! See if I care.” She stood up w her tray in her hand. “We better get back to work.” She started to walk away then turned back around with a smile on her face, “On second thought maybe if I am late Jacob will call me in his office and punish me like he punishes you.” She bit her bottom lip.
“Amy, that is not funny.” She shot a look at her friend and grabbed her own tray and headed to the trash bin.
Later that afternoon Angela put her dishes from last night into the dishwasher. She could not keep thinking about what Amy had said over lunch. Was she afraid of love? Jacob was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. She did have a history of pushing men away. There was the rich Italian doctor who she had dated for about 4 months. He practically begged her to go back to Italy with him when his fellowship was up. But she refused using her job as an excuse. But she could have gone, he was rich, she would not have had to even work. Then there was the athlete guy. Who played soccer or lacrosse or something? She didn’t pay much attention to his mouth while it was talking, only when it was doing other things. He wanted her to come and watch him in the Olympics, but she said she had to work and started avoiding his calls. Then there was Dave. She dated him for about a month then blew him off saying since they work together it wasn’t going to work out. She sighed and closed the dishwasher, hitting the start button and listening to it power to life. And there was Eric. Things were good with him until he snapped one day and told the vice president of the company just how he felt. Thank God he had left her name and their episode in the van out of his rant.
But Jacob would be there in about an hour. He told her before she left he would bring Chinese. She left the kitchen and walked to the living room. After plumping the pillows she sat down and reached into the table drawer and pulled out her little black diary. Here she kept all her deep dark secrets. She kept it here in the living room thinking if anyone was every going to try to steal it they would surely look in the bedroom in the typical hiding places first and maybe give her up as a non writer when they did not find one. She flipped the diary open to a page she had dog eared and started to read.
He left. No Note, No goodbye. His apartment is empty.
His neighbor told me she seen him packing his car.
His mother told me he had came and told her and his
Father goodbye, but did not tell them where he was going.
She figured we had broken up and it had something to do
with that. What did I do wrong? I gave my heart and soul
to him. And he left. No Note, no goodbye.
He has taken apart of me with him, and I will never be
complete again till he comes back for me.
I will never forget his eyes. His deep blue mesmerizing eyes.
Or his sexy blonde hair I loved to run my finger through.
I will never forget that first time we made love down by
The lake, or his sweet voice as he sang me to sleep.
I am sure he will never return. He always told me his
place was not here. I was naïve and thought I had changed
him. I will never love anyone like I loved Nicholas
Lawson. Thanks to him I will be scared and afraid to love
again, as it will only end in hurt and disgrace.
She closed the diary and sat quietly with her thoughts for a moment. She was barely 23 when Nick had left her, nearly 4 years ago. She had met him at a bar on her 21st birthday. He was a musician and she had caught his eye from the small stage where he sang a couple songs. He wasn’t part of a band, just a boy and his guitar. They had hit it off right away and fell madly in love with each other. She was sure that he was going to ask her to marry him. But it never happened. They rarely fought. He stayed with her most of the time, but would go home to help his elderly parents several nights a week. He put on a bad boy front, but she had gotten to know the real him, or at least she thought she had. He was perfect in her eyes. He had been waiting on a music deal to come through and she has told her self that is where he had gone. But she didn’t understand why he hadn’t asked her to come with him. She would have given up everything for him despite what her friends and family said about him.
She had been with several men since, but never long enough to make anything of it. Once they got serious, or she thought the “L” word was about to come into play, she ran faster than a marathon winner. Amy had told her that Jacob was different. She had told Amy everything about every other guy she had ever been with, even if she didn’t want to know. Except Nick, and now Jacob. She said it was because he was her boss and there was the whole work relationship thing, but she knew that there was a little more to it than that.
The past six months with Jacob had been wonderful. She was actually happy. He was sweet and kind, and everything that the bad boy Nick wasn’t. Successful being one of them. She flipped through her diary again until she found the entry she was looking for.
So Jacob has turned out to be not so much the jerk everyone
first thought. We sort of went out on a date tonight. I think?
I say sort of because it started out as the company Christmas party.
He had loosened up a little around the office over the past couple
weeks. Most everyone thanked me for that and joked about
how I turned my charm on him and calmed him down. I did
turn my charm on and decided that he was cute, so I would
give him a chance. Amy joked and said that she thought he liked
me. And joked about us having a romance together. Like that would
ever happen. But he still became an asshole and suck up when
Rick and Mr. Adams (the owner of the whole company) were around.
He was sitting at the end of the table with them, laughing and
brown nosing all night, while Amy, Devon, Molly, Brad, Dave,
and I sat at the other end. I kept noticing Jacob glancing our
way, I imagined getting irritated with us laughing and making
so many jokes. Finally, Amy and Devon started bickering and
I got tired of Dave’s advances and pleas to take me home
and headed off to the bar. I had just ordered my shot of
Vodka when I saw him walking towards me. Oh well.
I thought he had already caught me so I went ahead and
took my shot. He walked up beside me and amazingly
ordered two more shots and then slid one of them to me.
His cheer was simply “Merry Christmas” he then
proceed to tell me how he was tired of all this
Corporate kiss ass and wanted to know if I wanted to
blow the joint. I spotted Dave heading my way and
quickly agreed, but told him it had to be quick. So we snuck
out the side door and he grabbed my hand as he led me to his black
BMW. We headed across the street to the Irish Pud and
had a couple Guinness’. Afterwards he drove me back to my
car and before I went to get out he thanked me and kissed my
hand, then asked me if I wanted to go out Friday night.
I agreed, thinking this could turn out to be a disaster.
He did ask that I not tell anyone about tonight or our date
on Friday, just incase it was against some company rule.
Looks like the ole Jackson charm still has some spark
Seeing as I turned an asshole into a decent human being.
I am going to keep my promise and not tell anyone.
It’s going to be difficult not to tell Amy. Especially since
she has already called me demanding to know who I had
left with. She said that she was going to kill me if it was Dave
again. As he had disappeared soon after me. I assured her it was
not Dave and I had just been tired and went home. She
mumbled something about my car in the parking lot
but I told her it must have been one that looked like mine.
I don’t think she believed me, but she dropped it for the
time being.
She closed the diary again and looked at the clock. Jacob should be there any minute. She stashed her diary back into its hiding place and stretched her arms in the air. Right on time her doorbell rang. Another good quality in Jacob, he was very reliable and you could guarantee he would always be on time. She smiled.
“Coming.” She announced and padded in her bare feet to the front door. She pulled the door open to his smiling face. She instantly leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips.
“Hello, my lady.” He scooted past her and set the bags of Chinese food down on the table and pulled a DVD from his cargo shorts pocket. “I picked this one for you, seeing as you have sat through all my bad ass boy movies, thought you might like a chick flick.”
“P.S. I love you?” she questioned taking the DVD from him.
“I heard you an Amy talking about it.” He reached out and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. She stared at the movie title as she held it in her hand, before looking up at him with a desolate look in her eyes.
“What?” he quickly asked. “Did I make a bad choice?”
“No, it’s fine.” She pulled away from him and threw the movie on the couch. Of all the movies he could have chosen, he chose one with the “L” word in the title. She knew she was being silly, that it was just a stupid movie title, but she wished he had chosen the bloodiest, goriest movie instead of that one. “I’ll go get us some plates.” She said and quickly retreated to the kitchen.
He watched her rush to the kitchen wondering what that look in her eye was about. He had been afraid every since this morning when he told her what Rick had said that she was going to end their relationship. He knew that she enjoyed her job, and had been there a long time and Rick and Mr. Adams respected her even if they did think she was a bit contrary. He had to laugh at that because he had learned the hard way just how contrary she was. One of his first orders of business as the new office manager was to get the CSR’s to wear scrubs, seeing as they were in a clinical environment sort of speak and they dealt directly with patients on a day to day basis. He was stunned at her boldness when she flat out told him no, that she wasn’t going to. He had never dealt with anyone like her and surprisingly even to himself, he liked her more for it. She had stood her ground and wasn’t going to let the new hot shot manager change her ways.
He kept trying though, and was relieved when she changed her tune a bit and started joking and cutting up with him. He quickly realized how the others in the office respected her to as they loosened up with him a little too. After a while he began to wonder if her harmless flirting was not meant to be something more. As he started to like her more and more, he became a different person completely. He remembered distinctly throwing all his morals and professionalism out the window last year at the Christmas party. He realized that he wanted something more with her when he could not take his eyes off her in her sexy little black dress. Sure he sat with the big boss, that was what he was supposed to do, but he watched her. Laughing and joking with her friends. And he could not help it when the jealously crept in when he saw Dave lean over and whisper something in her ear. It was about then when he saw her excuse her self and head to the bar. Seeking the only opportunity he may have he excused himself to and followed her.
Now here he was six months later sitting in her living room floor about to put a movie in her DVD player. Something they had been doing just about every night for the past week. Their first date, he had taken her over to Gatlinburg where they had dinner and then saw a show, but every since he had been afraid to take her out as he was still afraid that his recklessness was going to catch up with him and he was going to lose his job for becoming involved with her, a fear that escalated this morning.
He took in the movie title as she did earlier, trying to see what she was seeing. “P.S. I love you.” He read out loud and chuckled. “Oh boy.” He thought. “This should be interesting.”
Angela sniffled and quickly wiped her eyes as the ending credits on of the film rolled.
“Are you crying?” Jacob teased from her lap.
“No.” she lied.
“Yes, you are.” He observed sitting up and poking her in the side. “And here I was beginning to think you were the biggest bad ass I know, ad you start to cry at a silly movie.”
“I never claimed to be a bad ass.” She sniffled again as he pulled her into his lap and snuggled her.
“Oh yea,” he stroked her cheek, “well you stood up to me pretty quickly and from what I heard it’s not the first time you stood you ground.” He lightly kissed her neck.
She pulled back and stared at him. “What do you mean? You heard from whom?” she demanded.
He chuckled. “Never mind.” He tried snuggling her again but she pushed him back, fire starting to flare in her eyes.
“See, that’s what I’m talking about. You always have to have your way.” He teased her knowing he was asking for it.
“I do not.” She pouted, “I just think I have a right to know who has been talking about me.”
“If I tell you, will you kiss me?” he bargained. She tossed him a glance.
“Yes.”
“Alright, at the Christmas party, Rick and Mr. Adams told me to watch out for you. They said that you were quite the rebel and had been known to give previous managers a hard time, but that you always seemed to charm them into liking you and praising you in the end. And that you got away with things you shouldn’t and sometimes thought you were the boss.” He sighed. “There I said it!”
“That’s just not true!” she gasped. “I respect all my managers.”
“Honey, do you have any idea what you have done to me?” he asked. “I am just glad that I know all the other managers were female, otherwise I would wonder what you did with them.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked angrily trying to squirm away from him, but he held her tight.
“I come in and ask you to do something you tell me no. I try to be a good manager and shape that office up and you come strutting in flirting with me putting your Jackson charm on me and I am putty in your hands.”
“You want me to do something. Tell me and I will do it.”
“I want that kiss.” He said rubbing his hand up her shirt and cupping her bare breast. “Don’t sweat it.” he assured her as she crossed her arms in a pout. “Your rebellion drew me to you and once under your spell I was doomed.” He kissed her neck. “And if I lose my job tomorrow, I don’t even care, as long as you promise me you will be there to comfort me at the end of the day.” He kissed her neck and continued to massage her breast. “Angie, I am crazy about you, and as long as you don’t try to charm the next guy that comes along, too, I will be perfectly happy with what ever you give me.” He kissed up her neck searching then for her mouth. Speechless she let him take it and let him pull her skimpy tank top over her head, then let him tongue fondle her breast.
“Jacob,” she whispered his name. “You have no idea how complicated I am.” She was thinking again about her conversation with Amy.
“I don’t care, I can learn.” He rasped, losing himself in her breast. She moaned, but placed her hands on his cheeks and brought his face up to look at her. “Jake, not tonight.” She signed and reached for her top. She kissed him gently then stood from his lap.
“Why not?” he asked as devastated as a 10 year old boy who had just had his favorite toy was taken away from him.
“Because.” She said pacing to the kitchen. “This may very well be over after tomorrow.” He jumped up and stormed to the kitchen after her. She was reaching for a glass in the cabinet and he spun her around.
“Did you not hear a word I just said?”
“You may even fall in love you him.” Amy’s words played in her head.
“No!” she protested out loud and shook her head. She gasped and pushed him away from her. “No, you can not lose your job on account of me. I’m not worth it.” she recovered.
“Angie, that’s where you are wrong.” He stroked her cheek, but she turned away. “Now why don’t you tell me what’s wrong, you have been acting distant all night.” He reached for her again, but she turned away and busied her self by fixing a glass of water.
She was freaking out and she knew it. She knew what was about to happen. She was about to push him away just like she did everyone else. And if she didn’t push him away she was afraid of what might then happen. Amy was right. She could very easily fall in love with him. But she knew she wouldn’t let her self, because she was afraid. He could break her heart and she wasn’t sure if she could handle that again, instead she would end up breaking his. She felt his arms wrap around her and felt his breath on the back of her neck and he gently kissed her. If she could just open up to him. He had just told her he was crazy about her. But that could mean lot’s of things, right. Besides what difference would it make, they would have to hide their relationship forever from Rick from corporate.
“Angie.” He gently spoke her name. “Please talk to me. What’s bothering you?”
She sniffled and turned around to face him. “We are going to have to hide our kids from Rick! He may take them away!” she began to sob. He could not help himself but laughed out loud and pulled her closely to him, holding her tight.
“I want let him take our kids, baby.” He kissed the top of her head. “I promise.” She looked up at him. “Jake, I am completely crazy. You should know this.” She told him.
He smiled. “I know.” She playfully hit him in the chest.
“I am serious, Jake.” She said sniffling back her tears, “and Jake, I am crazy about you, too.”
“Ang, I know, you don’t have to say anything.” He said kissing her. She stopped him.
“No, let me finish, you asked me to open up, so hear goes.” She took a deep breath and looked up into his green eyes again. “Jake, have you ever been in love?”
“Love?” he questioned and loosened his grip on her a little. She winced at his gesture, but continued.
“Yes, Love.” She paused. “Have you ever loved someone with your entire heart and soul, and then have them leave you with no explanation and rip your heart out along the way?”
“N…No.” he stuttered, “I don’t supposed I have.”
“Well, I have. And it sucks, for lack of a better word.” She paused to gage his reaction to this. He just stared down at her, so she continued. “I have protected myself from every falling in love since then. Just some causal sex here and there and a couple really hot flings.”
“Okay.” He protested. “I don’t think I want to hear this.” The thought of her having sex with someone else was burning its way into his head.
“No, you are going to listen to me now.” She informed him. “Jake, I have protected myself from falling in love for 4 years. But here you came and…. Well…..” she looked him in the eyes, “well, you changed everything.” She finished. After a couple moments of silence he finally smiled at her.
“So, let me get this straight.” He pulled her closer to him again. “Are you trying to tell me you are in love with me?” His eyes sparkled as he said the word.
“No!” she exclaimed. “That’s not what I am saying at all.” She suddenly panicked.
“Really?” he teased, “because that is what I am pretty sure I just heard.”
“Well, you heard wrong!” she said getting angry at him again for turning this into a joke. She should have known better, the stupid jerk just blew everything out of a proportion.
“You’re cute when you are angry.” He continued to tease her holding her tight despite her struggles.
“Screw you.” She spat at him.
“You already rejected that idea.” He chuckled amused that the girl he had thought was not afraid of nothing turned out to be afraid of love.
“GRRRRRR…..” she growled
“Did you just growl at me?” he laughed.
“Let me go.” She struggled fearlessly against his grip. “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.” he said snapping her arms down by her side and holding her there. “Angie, would it make it easier if I said it first?” he held her wrist with one hand, but tilted her face up to his with the other by gently placing it under her chin. “Angie,” he paused till her eyes met his. “I love you.” She let out a sob and almost fell to the floor before he caught her. He slid to the floor with her and held her close. “Isn’t that what you wanted to hear?” he questioned, confused as to why she was suddenly acting this way.
“I want it to be true.” She cried burying her face into her hands.
“Kid, you have no idea how true it is.” He pulled her hands away.
“But it can’t be.” She sobbed.
“Why not?”
“Duh, did you forget what is happening tomorrow? Office relationships are banned.”
“We don’t know that for sure, and besides, I told you earlier that I don’t care.” He kissed her hair. “If it will make you feel better I will march right up to Rick and tell him that I am in love with Angela Jackson and there is nothing he or Knox home Care can do about it. And I will tell him he can’t have our children.”
She laughed a littler despite her tears.
“How about we forget about the kids for now and go a little slower than that.” She smiled up at him. “Take me out on a real date. Let’s have dinner and movie, in the theater, and stop hiding our relationship.”
“Angie, I don’t know…” she cut him off.
“What happened to all the marching right up to Rick?” she poked fun at him this time. But it worked because he nodded.
“Okay. You’re right. We will go out on a date Saturday night.”
“I have a better idea.”
“Of course you do.” He laughed.
“A bunch of us are going out Friday night for dinner and drinks, and then dancing. I want to go with you as my boyfriend.”
“Angie, I…. “He paused as her pouty face looked down at the floor. “Alright, you win; we’ll do what ever you want.”
“Good, I want to spend all night with you as well.” She stood and extended her hand to him. Thus far, they had not slept over together. After sex and a couple hours of cuddling one of he would leave or she would and head for their own house. He looked up at her seeing her smile once again and took her hand. He let her lead him down the hall to the bedroom.
No comments:
Post a Comment